(NUE) - Today, work, kids' activities, meetings
and chores often take the place of quality time and nutritious
family dinners.
Although everyone has different schedules, it
is important to set aside some family time for meals. Did you
know that families who eat together tend to raise children with
healthier eating habits?
To make family meals a regular occurrence, hold
a family meeting and decide as a group to make them a priority.
Some advance planning, timesaving techniques, quick-prep recipes
and fun ideas can make family dinners a more convenient and interactive
experience that's enjoyed by everyone.
Try the following tips and watch your family
come back to the table:
* Make a dinner schedule with assigned responsibilities
and post it on the refrigerator.
* Take turns choosing a theme, like "beach
party" or "football" for special meals. Add music
and easy decorations!
* Turn off the television.
* Establish topics for dinner conversation and
encourage participation. Try thought-provoking questions, like
"If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it
be?"
* Try new foods. Ask a family member to choose
a different seasonal fruit or vegetable once a month.
* Take advantage of pre-sliced, pre-washed produce
at the grocery store.
* Use simple, skip-a-step recipes for traditional
family favorites that require little preparation and
few ingredients, such as the following recipe
for chicken parmesan. For more recipes and tips, visit www.eat.com.
No Frying Chicken Parmesan
(4 servings)
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1 egg, slightly beaten
3/4 cup Italian seasoned dry bread crumbs
1 jar (26 oz.) Ragœ Old World Style Pasta
Sauce
1 cup (about 4 oz.) shredded mozzarella cheese
Preheat oven to 400 F. Dip chicken in egg, then
bread crumbs.
Arrange chicken in 13- by 9-inch baking dish.
Bake uncovered 20 minutes.
Pour sauce over chicken; top with cheese. Bake
10 more minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. Serve, if
desired, with hot cooked pasta.
Prep Time: 10 minutes.
Cook Time: 30 minutes
